The Award

Each year Sensory Perceptions is proud to present the New Directors Showcase. The festival programmers have selected films by first or second time directors that show an emerging talent for filmmaking. The films were selected based on their uniqueness of voice or style, quality of narrative, and overall craftsmanship. The jury has been assembled to choose the one film that best exhibits these qualities. That filmmaker will receive special recognition by the Portland Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and a $500 cash award. In addition, a short film will be selected by the jury for recognition. That film will receive a $250 cash award.

Jury Members

Jim Rodesta

As the News Editor of Just Out, Oregon's queer biweekly, Jim Radosta makes a living by writing obituaries, bonding with Lon Mabon and surreptitiously adding new letters to the GLBTQI acronym. Every once in a while, however, he begrudgingly attends film screenings and is forced to share his opinion with thousands of readers statewide. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., where he had the opportunity to interview the likes of Kirk Douglas, John Schlesinger and Peter Bogdanovich. He previously worked for The Idaho Statesman in Boise, The Statesman Journal in Salem and The Skanner in North Portland. A single gay man living in Hawthorne, he was one of the few who proudly paid to see Gigli. And he'd do it again.

Jamie June

Jamie June recently received her MS in Arts Management from the University of Oregon, where her research focused on queer film festivals and the management of non-profit media arts and performing arts organizations. She has served as Festival Director for the Olympia Film Festival in Olympia, WA as well as Jury Chair and Festival Director for the University of Oregon Queer Film Festival in Eugene, OR. Jamie is currently the Studio Manager for Conduit Dance, Inc. and spends her free time performing a series of odd jobs for various arts organizations around town. Beyond watching films and making the world a better, safer place for artists, Jamie enjoys baking (and eating) pies and spending time with her girl, Laura.

The remaining jurors will be announced at a later date.